Lake District, Day 3

A walk to the facilties at 5.00 am revealed a crystal clear star spangled sky.  The Plough, Orion and other constellations stood out clearly and the milky way arced over the site.  Two hours later we woke to a cloudless, but chilly, morning, significantly colder than of late at 7C.  Breakfast was pleasant as the sun rose and warmed the air and with birds visiting the feeders buzzed backwards and forwards.

Having negotiated a relatively traffic free Kendal, we were soon pulling into the car park at Larch Cottage Nursery near Penrith where we had arranged to meet Peter and Linda.  It was good to catch up over coffee and cake in the excellent cafe before pottering around the attractive nursery with its extensive range of plants.  Heather managed to restrict her plant buying to two plants!  The plan was to drive up to the head of Swindale on the eastern edge of the Lake District fells.  However when we came across a road closed sign (which in the end did not involve our route) we temporarily retreated to have lunch on the banks of Haweswater Beck where we were entertained by inquisitive cattle escaping from their field. 

 Swindale Beck flows down into the wide comb at the head of the valley, surrounded by modest but imposing fells, from the pass at the head of Mosedale.  In fact it is the junction of Mosedale and Little Mosedale Becks that form Swindale Beck.

We walked along first the road and then a rougher path from the farm building a Swindale Head.  As we walked the views became more and more dramatic and we could see rock climbers busy on the crags on the opposite side of the valley.  Once past Swindale Head the comb opened out and the waterfalls of Swindale Beck came into view.  After narrowly avoiding a major back incident whilst photographing the falls, we crossed the footbridge and continued along the RSPB trail along the opposite side of the valley.  The RSPB have been working with landowners, United Utilities, to reintroduce meanders into the beck to make environmental improvements thus enhancing the valley for wildlife and reducing the risk of flooding further downstream. We noticed, also, that there had been a lot of tree planting on the fellside, again providing more varied habitat for wildlife and reducing water runoff from the fells and also reducing soil erosion.  Just before crossing back over the beck we enjoyed watching a family of stonechats: adults and juveniles; good to note a successful fledging of these superb birds.  Interestingly at this point a weir had been built into the beck and fitted with turbines to generate electricity. 

Following a drink stop at the cars we retreated to the warm and welcoming Strickland Arms for and excellent meal.  Another fabulous day.

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